A £6,000-A-MONTH Teesside housing chief is now out of a job, despite being acquitted of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Susan Thompson was the director of Middlesbrough-based Fabrick Housing, when she stood trial in March for Class A drugs offences alongside her police officer husband Paul Thompson.

Mr Thompson was convicted of possessing cocaine and misconduct - by making checks on the police computer.

But he was acquitted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

During the trial, the court heard Mrs Thompson, known as Susie, speak of her year of “pure hell” as she fought to clear her name at Newcastle Crown Court.

Now, it has been revealed she is no longer employed at Fabrick Housing, the parent company for Erimus Housing, which oversees Middlesbrough’s 12,000-strong social housing stock.

Mrs Thompson claimed her reputation had been damaged - hopefully not beyond repair - as the couple revealed they were taking their case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after they were both cleared of conspiracy to supply.

She said: “You’re not innocent until proven guilty, you are guilty until you can prove your innocence and it’s not fair.”

A spokeswoman for Fabrick Housing said Mrs Thompson had left the company “by mutual agreement”. The organisation was not able to comment further at this time, but was expected to release a statement later.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police, where Mr Thompson was a Detective Sergeant when the alleged offences came to light, said the force was not aware of any complaint of unfair treatment made by the couple, either to the force or the IPCC.

He said: “The public rightly expects the highest possible standards of all Northumbria Police officers and staff. Where we suspect those standards fall below the required level, we will take action.

“Paul Thompson was a serving officer convicted of possessing a Class A drug and misconduct in a public office - this was entirely inappropriate behaviour for any employee of Northumbria Police.

“We carefully consider each investigation we undertake, to make a decision purely on cost would be wrong, we are obliged to investigate thoroughly if concerns are raised to us and will continue to do so.

“There is a well-established complaints procedure for anyone who feels they have not been treated fairly. Following the conclusion of this case no such complaint has been received by either Mr or Mrs Thompson.

“The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also received no such complaints.”